76 
the comparative largeness of the bequests to her and her children, 
perhaps indicate that William Jeffray had not stood so high in the 
testator’s estimation as a son-in-law as had the Rev. James Con 
ingham. 
Amongst twelve grandchildren to whom he leaves legacies, we 
clearly identify “William Cookson, son of Thomas Cookson,” as 
the future William Cookson, mercer, of Penrith, maternal grand- 
father of Wordsworth. 
To his sons Thomas and Benjamin, he leaves small legacies, 
which, with what he had already settled upon them, he says, ‘‘is 
and shall be his full part and portion ;” and to his youngest son, 
James (evidently not before benefitted), he bequeaths one hundred 
pounds, and fifty more after his mother’s death.” To his son 
Isaac he bequeaths “five pounds, and also one pound to buy 
mourning rings for himself and for my daughter-in-law Hannah, 
his wife.” Also to Isaac he bequeaths ‘all that my dwelling 
house which my father purchased of Widow Ashbridge, situate 
lying and being in the Netherend, etc., etc., from and after the 
decease of my beloved wife, Alice Cookson ;” in consideration of 
which Isaac had to pay the legacies charged thereon. ‘The testator 
further provides that ‘“‘all the rest of my real and personal estates, 
etc., etc., I give and bequeath to my loving wife Alice Cookson, 
and to my son Isaac Cookson, now living in Newcastle, whom I 
nominate and appoint executors of this my last will and testament? 
and it is my will and desire that after my interment a decent grave- 
stone be procured and laid over my body with such inscription as 
to my executors shall seem suitable ; for which use and purpose I 
leave to my fore-named executors the sum of two pounds ten 
shillings.” It must be borne in mind that at that date the wages 
of masons and joiners were one shilling per day, and of labourers 
sixpence to eightpence ; the cost of the tombstone was therefore 
equivalent to twelve or fifteen pounds at the present day. 
Knowing what we do of the Nonconformist principles of William 
and Alice, as gathered from the parish registers and the incidents 
of his will, it is evident that this family were staunch Presbyterians, 
and accounts for the fact that many of their grandchildren were 
